Visitors to Sydney can’t help but be mesmerised by the view of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, so choosing to stay at the Intercontinental Sydney, just minutes from Circular Quay, is a real treat.

Much like the city of Sydney, the five-star InterContinental hotel perfectly blends its rich colonial history with artistic modern flair. Arguably the city’s best located hotel, the InterContinental Sydney boasts 509 rooms and suites, three dining options and an award-winning rooftop club lounge.

Hotel rooms are located within a modern extension to the original building and overlook either Sydney Harbour, The Royal Botanical Gardens or the city skyline. Ask for a room with a view of the Opera House and in the morning you’ll be able to raise the blinds from the comfort of your bed to reveal that million-dollar harbour view. What a way to wake up.

It’s also worth upgrading to a Club Room for access to the hotel lounge on the 32nd floor featuring an outdoor wrap-around terrace with a view spanning 270 degrees across the harbour. Club Rooms also include breakfast, all-day snacks, drinks and canapes, and concierge service.

Blending both old and new

In 1982, plans were drawn up to convert the Treasury Building into a new luxury hotel. In line with plans to conserve the history and heritage of the heart of Sydney, careful consideration was taken to keep as many original features as possible of the 19th Century building.

The Cortile is the hotel’s sophisticated lobby lounge and offers all day light dining and drinks in a beautiful historic setting. Indulge in The Treasury High Tea here and you’ll be seated in the place the nation’s first grape harvest was planted in 1788. The hotel also features the oldest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, built in the 1800’s.

The initial process of restoration of the old Treasury Building to a luxury five-star hotel didn’t make sustainability or energy management a priority. However, in 1990 the InterContinental Hotels Group reviewed its policies and made a commitment to doing its part to protect the environment. Of all their hotels worldwide, InterContinental Sydney was at the forefront of this process.

Pledge to the planet

All InterContinental hotels now follow the Green Engage programme which outlines policies for all areas of sustainability, from waste management to energy efficiency. It’s a journey that has taken over 30 years of incorporating sustainability into hotel policies at every opportunity. In fact, the InterContinental Sydney was winner of the Green Hotelier Awards 2016 in Asia Pacific.

At the core of the InterContinental Sydney’s sustainability strategy is saving energy, water and waste. So far, the hotel has achieved nearly 50% savings on electricity, approximately 30% on gas and 30% on water.

The hotel has also taken Earth Hour one step further by implementing this yearly event, monthly, as a way to engage both staff and guests in climate action. The hotel also supports St Canice, a soup kitchen in Kings Cross that feeds over 200 homeless people on a daily basis. Through this initiative, they regularly supply homeless people with food, bed linen and amenities. Voluntary staff from the hotel have also worked with St Canice to renovate the church hall and refugee accommodation.

Where?

Website: www.icsydney.com.au

Address: 117 Macquarie St, Sydney